Part Q and what it means for you

October 1 is the deadline to meet Part Q, the new section of the Building Regulations that introduces a single security standard for all new homes.

Approved Document Q (AD Q) of the Building Regulations sets out ‘reasonable standards for doors and windows to resist physical attack by a casual or opportunist burglar by being both sufficiently robust and fitted with appropriate hardware’.

These apply to any door or window that provides entry into the main property, so they include patio, French, double, folding, and communal doors as well as ground floor windows and other easily accessible windows such as rooflights.

The four main changes that trade installers must remember when ordering or specifying doors to be used in a new dwelling are:

1. All door-sets need to meet the requirements of PAS24:2014; other comparable standards can all be applied such as STS 204, LPS 1175 and LPS 2081.

2. All letter plates will need to be a maximum of 260mm x 40mm and will need to be designed to hinder any attempt to remove keys by hand or using a stick.

3. All main doors will need a door viewer unless there is clear glass within the door or a window is sited next to the door-set.

The user can drill down into each section to get all the information required for any project. For instance, the Specification section offers downloadable PDFs that provide all the technical information required in a series of sample specifications designed to cover most typical applications. These offer the latest advice on Building Regulations, U-values and Window Energy Ratings (WERs), Beyond Building Regulations, future window systems, sustainability and also set out case studies for each of the products.

The dedicated specifiers’ section also offers Building Information Modelling (BIM) objects of its five most commonly specified Modus windows available for download from of its website.

Each Revit Family BIM model includes the three sash style options available with Modus, from the traditional fully-flush sash increasingly specified in conservation areas to the contemporary slim rebate, often chosen for mixed-use developments.

The house that Eurocell built

When builder Colin Clarkson visited his local Eurocell branch in Wakefield to price up some roof tiles he did not expect to end up renovating his new home from top to bottom in products from there.

But now his bungalow features Eurocell-sourced products from top to bottom, from Tapco Composite Slate tiles on the roof and garage roof and Skypod skylights on the extension through to composite doors and PVC-U windows.

“It’s all come together really well,” says Colin. “I’d recommend Eurocell to anyone – I got a good price on everything, the quality is 100% and they’ve given me the absolute assurance that if there’s any problem they’ll change the product.”

The building itself was an early 1960’s two bedroomed brick and block bungalow with a conservatory extension that had been owned by the same family since 1968 and was in a poor state of repair.

Colin saw its potential and bought it to convert into a three-bedroomed home with pitched dormers and a flat-roofed extension that matched the best of contemporary design and living standards.

Andy Dawson, the Wakefield area manager for Eurocell, worked with Colin in sourcing and specifying the products for the house. He says the project made him proud: “I know the area and pass the bungalow when we visit my brother-in-law – and it gives me a boost every time I see it. It looks very good.”

Come and see us at Construction Week!

Come and see our latest products at the newly launched UK Construction Week (6-11 October 2015) at the National Exhibition Centre near Birmingham.

We are showcasing two new products at the Build Show event, which takes place between 6-8 October: the Equinox tiled roof system with NEW! Slateskin tile and the Modus mechanical joint. Visitors will also be able to view bi-fold doors and two Skypod skylights on the stand.

Our expanding network

Last month we opened three new branches and this month we have outlets at Rugby and Kettering joining our national network – making sure that wherever you work in the UK, you’re always able to buy direct from the manufacturer.

The speed at which our network is growing shows how attractive our proposition is: more than 4,000 top quality, keenly-priced building plastics products on your doorstep.

And you can check out what we have to offer the next time you pass one of our branches – such as the new ones at Rugby and Kettering. We know you’ll be impressed by the market-leading quality and value and the excellent service we provide.

We’re planning to open more branches over the next few months, enabling our customers to cut out the middleman and buy direct from the UK's leading manufacturer and distributor of plastics products for construction.

Heritage project gets help

Over the last seven months Eurocell Building Plastics has been supplying Derbyshire Floorcraft with over £60,000 worth of conservatory roof components as part of their contract for the refurbishment of Sneinton Market in Nottingham.

“We’ve worked together as a team with our design department and technical support to deliver all the roofing and glazing components needed to match the original Victorian design,” says Jon Oliver, Regional Manager Nottinghamshire & Lincolnshire.

The 8 x 80m long lean-to roofs are an integral part of the market’s particular appearance and matching the period appearance while delivering a 21st century performance was an unusual challenge for the Eurocell team.

Since purchasing the Sneinton Market site in November 2013, Nottingham City Council has been working to improve this important part of the city’s heritage and move forward its plans to reinvigorate the site as a focal point for Nottingham’s emerging creative sector.

The units on the site will be refurbished into workshops and studios for use by creative enterprises – helping to establish a vibrant creative business community and revitalise Sneinton Market as a visitor destination.

The work forms part of the city council’s growth plan and was part-funded by a £2.4million European regional development fund grant, with £1.45million additional funding from the council.

New colours brochure

Grow With Colours, the latest brochure from Eurocell, showcases the wealth of possibilities offered by its enhanced range of coloured profiles across market-leading products, including Modus and Eurologik doors and windows, Charisma vertical sliding sash windows, Euroslide patio doors and Skypod skylights and conservatory roofs.

We’ve expanded our standard range to include exciting new colours such as Anteak and Cream White as well as the ever popular Cream, Rosewood and Anthracite Grey – all available from stock.

Even greater choice is available with the Made To Order range, which offers up to 32 options with a lead time of only three weeks. Whether you require the natural appearance of woodgrain finishes or cool greys, greens and blues, Eurocell can guarantee colour matching across all its PVC-U products.

These include the Eurocell range of external cills and end caps, which are available in three sizes and are colour matched to a wide range of window systems within the industry. Plus, there is a wide range of complementary ancillary products, including decorative add-on products and window finishing trims in foam and rigid options, so that windows and doors can be tailored to meet any requirement.